Moorosi Tsiane
LCS are hoping to bounce back from their recent 3-1 loss to Lifofane as they welcome struggling LDF at LCS Ground on Saturday.
Mpitsa Marai’s charges have had it tough lately struggling to get maximum points and are fourth with 11 points after seven matches. The side were handed a shock defeat by Lifofane on Sunday at Butha-Buthe Pitso Ground.
Similarly, LDF have also endured a tough season winning only one out of seven. They are ninth with eight points.
Sohle-Sohle goes into the weekend encounter on the back of a goalless draw with Sefotha-fotha, their fifth draw this season.
Marai conceded to the Lesotho Times that they have endured a tough start to the new season.
“There are so many factors behind our poor showing and in our last match, we only had three subsitutes on the bench because 12 of our players were unavailable for selection due to different reasons,” Marai said.
“On Tuesday we also held a one on one sessions with our players in an attempt to establish where the real problems are because we can’t continue like this. We sat down and tried to address the matters and hopefully things will change.”
Marai said playing LDF has never been an easy task but said they would fight.
“It’s never easy playing against LDF but we will fight for results and hope to start winning,” Marai said.
LDF coach Motheo Mohapi also said his side was equally going through a rough patch owing to injuries.
He however, said they were looking forward to the Saturday match and were targeting maximum points.
“We have been struggling for results and our biggest problem now is that our key players namely Tšepo Toloane, Letlatsa Moshoeshoe and Mokapane Tsolo are nursing injuries. This is a huge challenge because we have a small pool of players. However, we will still work hard to get results and nothing will be different in the upcoming match.
“We are playing one of the league’s biggest sides, so it is clearly going to be a tough encounter.”
The former Likuena midfielder said his side has also failed to score and this has negatively impacted on his players.
“In all these matches that we have played, our problem has been converting the chances that we create. We are not where we are supposed to be and that has taken a toll on the players, they are human beings and you can see that it is affecting them negatively. However, we are trying to help them rebuilding their confidence.
“We are not a small team. We cannot be underestimated because we will rise to the occasion and cause upsets anytime and that is how we will approach the LCS game. Of course, they have fared better than us but we know what they are capable of, so we will be cautious,” Mohapi said.
In other league matches on Saturday Kick4Life welcome on song Lifofane in the first of two matches at LCS while Swallows lock horns with Lijabatho in a bottom of the table clash.
On Sunday Liphakoe face an acid test hosting on fire LMPS at LCS Ground while Lioli are at home against Sefotha-fotha at Ratjomose Ground.
To wrap up the weekend fixture all eyes will be at Setsoto Stadium where Matlama will entertain Bantu on Sunday. The outcome of the time will surely set the tone for the rest of the season for both sides as Matlama target retaining the league title while Bantu hope to return to their perch after being displaced by Matlama last season.
